My most recent work is now showing at The Lasting Dose Gallery along with fellow Reno artists Lisa Kurt and Kelly Ogilvie for a show called, Invincible Summer. While preparing for this show, I faced a string of external distractions. I worked through it by reminding myself of the commitment that I made with everyone else involved in the project and by also reminding myself that the hard-times were temporary, if not entirely all in my head. I think the theme of Invincible Summer seemed fitting for my situation because I spent the majority of the winter in almost a full retreat. It was a kind of "hibernation" in a sense because I had to focus intensely on myself and my art-related work inside and outside of the studio. I kept to myself a lot, observing almost everything around me offline and online, figuring out how I wanted to interpret the theme of our show, my next steps as an artist and then executing. It's been an extremely intense and emotional time for me over the last 5 to 6 months. However, I seem to have made it out of the first few humps and am starting to emerge again...a little bit. Hopefully I'm mentally and emotionally stronger, wiser, more aware and ready to engage the world again. We'll see how true that is in the coming weeks.For now, please check out what I think is my best work from the show and read more about this group art exhibition here. The work will be on-view through June 3rd. If you're interested in purchasing a painting, please contact Kelsey or Mike at lastingdosegallery@gmail.c
"Undive" @ The Blue Project
Last weekend I submitted this new painting for an upcoming group show in Reno called The Blue Project. All of the works submitted to to the show have to follow the theme of "blue," however the artists want to interpret it, and the artwork has to be done in the color blue to some extent. I'm really looking forward to seeing what all of the other artists are putting up and how it will all look on the gallery walls.When I thought of the color blue, or what it may represent, I immediately thought of water - something that I often find myself drawn to or inspired by. I also thought of sadness. Then I thought of the ocean and how I think it is inviting, beautiful and calming; yet also overwhelming, unpredictable and dangerous. The train of thought reminded me of a poem I wrote some months ago:You were the warmest oceanDeep, invitingYour clear waves invaded my beachRhythmically, naturallyWith no hesitation I dove inFreely, happilyCarried by your currentsSwift, safeI could swim in you foreverWillingly, ecstasySo sudden did those waters changeCold, stillAnd I sank, enveloped by blacknessQuickly, heavilyThe deception leaves me drowningGasping, dyingYour latest victim, I drift to the bottomHopelessly, forgottenMy final thoughts pleading that I couldUnwishUnwantUndiveI'm not sure if that would be considered a good poem, but it's certainly an honest expression. This was one of many poems I wrote about the feeling of someone drawing me in then suddenly turning cold against me. Acceptance followed by rejection. Or once feeling preferred, then having the revelation of being the lower option. The amount of confusion and pain from experiencing that multiple times has left a particular impression on me. But that is for another series and another blog post. At any rate, I thought the image of a drowned mermaid would be the best way to bring all of the elements in my head together in one painting for this show.In general, I like the concept of mermaids. I can identify with the duality of their design, and I think that the conflict it presents is very interesting. Visually and conceptually there's a lot to play with. Perhaps it could be something that I can explore further sometime down the line.This piece, along with many other works inspired by "blue" made by amazing Reno artists, will be on-view and available for purchase at Lasting Dose Gallery through all of April.Lasting Dose Gallery888 S. Virginia St.Reno, NV 89502